Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 535 - 533

Chapter 535: Chapter 533

When Xiao’er and Shangguan Wanru arrived on the banks of the Huai River, many men practicing for the dragon boat race were already there, with each team gathering around their boats, discussing something.

Fu Ranhui looked at the men dressed in different team uniforms, and at the slender and narrow dragon boats sporting large red flowers on their bows. Feeling both nervous and excited, she asked, "We won’t capsize and fall into the water, will we?"

"What kind of talk is that? Of course not! Even if you fell in, somebody would save you!" Shangguan Wanru suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.

They hadn’t even boarded the boat yet, and here she was, speaking ill of their future.

Who would curse themselves with a capsized boat before even starting? They were here to compete. If they capsized, wouldn’t they become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial City!

"But falling in would be so embarrassing, and it would harm our reputation!" Fu Ranhui murmured.

"If it’s that much of a concern for you, just stay ashore and cool off," Shangguan Wanru retorted.

"No, I am here to be the drummer!"

Shangguan Wanru specially picked out Uncle Cai, a servant from her home who had participated in the dragon boat race several years ago, to teach them how to row.

Shangguan Wanru only intended to have some fun; whether they placed in the race didn’t matter to her.

Shangguan Xuanyi arrived on horseback and saw the androgynously dressed figure of Xiao’er from afar.

Coming to her side, he took in her special ensemble — a blend of soft femininity and a touch of masculine charm. It looked good on her.

"Brother Shangguan!" Xiao’er greeted him cheerfully.

"Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here? I would have come to meet you," he said. He wished he could have been the first to see her in these clothes. Shangguan Xuanyi’s face darkened at the sight of the men’s gazes falling on Xiao’er.

"I’m here for the dragon boat race. Aren’t you happy to see me?"

"I am." Shangguan Xuanyi stole a glance at Shangguan Wanru. It must be her idea again.

"Do you guys know how to row? Don’t end up in the river," Shangguan Xuanhao and Shangguan Xuanjun said as they approached, Shangguan Xuanhao being the one to voice their concern.

"I certainly won’t." Xiao’er answered confidently.

"Don’t underestimate us!" retorted Shangguan Wanru, sounding peeved.

When Ruan Weizhen and Gu Qiqi saw them, they blushed and greeted them with a curtsey.

"Why are you also joining in the fun?" Shangguan Xuanhao asked Ruan Weizhen.

Shangguan Xuanjun also looked toward Gu Qiqi with similar questioning eyes.

"Of course we are here because it’s fun!" Shangguan Wanru answered for them before they could open their mouths.

"Princess Wanru invited us," Ruan Weizhen and Gu Qiqi said, finding themselves very much like ducks being forced onto a perch. Still, there’s a part of them that wanted to see their future husbands.

Thinking this, despite their worries about the upcoming rigorous practice, they felt the power of love. If they could see their beloved every day, rowing in a dragon boat race wasn’t much of a sacrifice, was it? It wasn’t as if they were being asked to jump into the river, why wouldn’t they be willing?

"Don’t go crazy following her around. What if you end up in the river?" Shangguan Xuanhao warned them again.

Xiao’er covered her face. Shangguan Xuanhao’s words were always displeasing. Which eye of Ruan Weizhen is blinded to make him tolerable to her?

"That won’t happen." Ruan Weizhen understood his concern.

"He’s the crazy one. Ignoring him, let’s go to the dock and start practicing," Shangguan Wanru, grabbing Xiao’er, headed for the pier.

"Wait!" Shangguan Xuanyi asked Xiao Fuzi to bring his oar over.

"My oar is good to use." Shangguan Xuanyi took the one handed to him and gave it to Xiao’er.

"If I use yours, what will you use?" Xiao’er took it, seeing two spots on the wooden oar where the varnish was worn smooth and discolored from repeated use. Clearly, it had been used for a long time.

"I’ll just have another one made."

The Sixth Prince is really considerate. Even Ruan Weizhen and Gu Qiqi felt the pang of envy as they saw this.

Seeing this, Shangguan Wanru nudged two pieces of wood towards them: "You’re not being used to your full potential, but you should know enough to follow suit!".

Shangguan Xuanjun didn’t mind Shangguan Wanru’s teasing. With a look, he signaled a servant behind him, who tactfully went to fetch an oar.

"Troublesome," Although Shangguan Xuanhao muttered this, he still ordered his men to fetch his oar.

Xiao’er noticed something funny -- Shangguan Xuanhao’s ears were actually blushing!

Shangguan Xuanyi helped Xiao’er onto the boat before leaving.

Neither Shangguan Xuanjun nor Shangguan Xuanhao had as thick skin as Shangguan Xuanyi. Fearing that Shangguan Wanru would ask them to assist someone as well, they quickly excused themselves.

The Fifth Princess chuckled, "This is the first time I’ve seen Second and Fourth Princes flee in panic. Wanru, you’re too sharp-tongued."

"They’re just not used to it!" Shangguan Wanru replied indifferently.

The five ladies, along with Yang Liu and Yang Mei, as well as three maids skilled in martial arts that Shangguan Wanru had picked, made a team of ten. Under Uncle Cai’s guidance, they began to row, their strokes inconsistent.

As their oars rose and fell out of sync, they were in a complete mess. The people on the passing boats burst into laughter at the sight.

"If you all really want to row a boat, why don’t you go back and row in your mansion’s lake? This dragon boat race is not as simple as you think!" Shangguan Ruixi, from his dragon boat a meter away yelled at them.

"Indeed, this is not for delicate ladies like yourselves. Why don’t you go back and embroider instead?" The heir of the Duke’s Mansion also chimed in.

"Ladies, please, leave! Don’t make a fuss here. With your speed, we could race three rounds and you still wouldn’t reach the finish line!"

"Brother Lin, I think you’re being too polite. Three rounds? I reckon we could row back and forth ten times, and they still wouldn’t have reached the finish line."

"I say it’s twenty times!"

"Thirty times! Look at them, they’re actually spinning in circles. What a spectacle!"

"Indeed...Haha!"

Di Shaowei, who had seen Xiao’er skillfully navigate a sail before, intervened: "Don’t underestimate my little sister. Who knows, in the actual race, this Detachment of Women might place."

"Place? Ha ha...That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard." The son of the Enbo mansion laughed loudly.

The others also nodded in agreement, considering it impossible.

Hearing their taunts, Shangguan Wanru was not willing to accept it: "Don’t underestimate us! We will definitely place in this race."

Upon hearing these words from Shangguan Wanru, Fu Ranhui tugged at her sleeve: "I thought it was the spirit of participation that mattered? We’re here to have fun. When did it become about placing?"

She had only been rowing for a short while, and already her arms felt like they were going to break.

Ruan Weizhen and Gu Qiqi both nodded — their hands were used to holding embroidery needles and paintbrushes, not oars!

They came for the opportunity to see their fiances, when did it become about placing in a boat race?

"To be honest, I find the scenery on both shores quite beautiful. We can row slowly and enjoy the view," Gu Qiqi suggested.

"That’s right, that’s right, it’s so beautiful!" Fifth Princess quickly admitted her regret. In just a short time, she felt like her hands were going to blister!

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